It's easy and understandable to forget that today is a game day for the USMNT - one that would have been a celebration of a tough qualifying campaign which ended in success in Honduras over the weekend.

The US did themselves a huge favor by taking all three points in Honduras and avoiding any last day scenario that could have seen them in a all-or-nothing playoff against what is certain to be a good South American team. Honduras and Costa Rica's hides are now on the line instead, meaning Coach Bob Bradley has some decisions to make regarding his lineup for Wednesday night's final hexagonal match-up in Washington DC, which is still meaningful - just not for the Americans.

"You want to know why soccer is the world's greatest sport? I'll tell you why. Because all you need is the ball and an open space. You don't need fancy equipment or special fields; you don't have to be big or strong or tall. It's the most democratic of all the sports. The people's game. Your people's game. And America's game of the future."